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New domestic travel guidelines Issued for nationwide uniform protocol

The Union Health Ministry on Wednesday issued revised guidelines for domestic travel across the nation during the ongoing Covid pandemic. "The Union government has not recommended any restrictions on inter-state travel in the context of Covid-19. Further, states were allowed to develop their own protocols with regards to quarantine and isolation as per their assessment. It has come to notice that certain states, however, have imposed negative RT-PCR testing reports as a criterion for point of entry in their states. "With a view to facilitating inter-state travel, while observing required precautions, the guidelines for domestic travel via flight, train, ship, or bus inter-state are revised so as to have a uniform protocol for domestic travel across the country," the ministry said. As per the new guidelines, passengers should self-monitor their health and travel only when they have no symptoms related to Covid-19. All passengers shall follow Covid appropriate behaviour at all times which includes use of mask, face cover, hand hygiene and physical distancing of six feet, as far as feasible. The mask or face covers must be worn properly to cover nose and mouth, while touching the front portion of mask/face covers, is to be avoided. All passengers will have to download Arogya Setu app on their mobile devices. If any passengers develop fever during travel, they will have to report this to cabin crew/TTE/bus conductor. If any passenger develops symptoms after reaching their final destination, they shall inform the District Surveillance Officer or the state or national call centre. The guidelines have recommended suitable announcement for Covid-19 and Covid appropriate behaviour at airports, railway station, ports, and bus terminals. Such announcements may include precautionary measures to be followed. The passengers wearing masks or face covers properly to cover nose and mouth shall be allowed to travel.

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Air India's Goa-London Flight Under Air Bubble Pact Resumes. Check Timings Here

Back in October 2020, Air India, the national air carrier announced additional flights between India and UK under Air Bubble Agreement. Flights to London were scheduled from Indian cities including Delhi, Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Amritsar, Kolkata, Kochi & Goa. While the flights operated till December, second wave forced India to halt its flight services to the UK, and later, UK halted services to India given the rising COVID-19 cases in the country. UK, this month, had put India on Amber list once again, starting the flight operations between the two countries with caution. Under the same agreement, Air India will resumed its Goa-London flights. As per Air India, only schedule from August 26-31 has been released as of now and further dates will be revealed in the coming months. Air India is already operating London flights from Delhi and Mumbai post reopening of borders. Air India will also commence direct flights to London from Kolkata and Chennai soon. Air India also stated that given the situation of COVID-19 and possible onset of third wave, they have not decided a full schedule for London flights and will only reveal dates closer to the flight operations. Goa airport is currently undertaking international repatriation flights to Middle-Eastern countries, while domestic flight services are being operated as per schedule.

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Hyderabad: Jalpally Lake to be turned into tourist destination

he Telangana government has taken up measures for the preservation and restoration of the historic lakes of the state. Similarly, the Jalpally lake restoration works have been undertaken by the Jalpally Municipality officials along with various government departments. According to the irrigation department, the lake is spread over 274 acres. The officials of the Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority (HMDA) have proposed a plan to set a Rock Garden with a budget of Rs.9.5 crores, build walkways, cycling tracks, a gymnasium, boat rides, food courts, and other facilities at the lake. GP Kumar, the Commissioner of Jalpally Municipality has said that the civic body has set up plans to beautify the Jalpally lake on par with other lakes of the city. He added that in coordination with other government departments, the civic body plans to make the Jalpally Lake a mini Tank Bund. As the lake is situated near the Hyderabad International Airport, the public is attracted to its attractive display. However, lack of adequate facilities has been the drawback of the lake with anti-social activities becoming a norm at the lake. After the Jalpally Municipality initiative, the Rachakonda Police have started 24 hours patrolling of the area. The Municipality Commissioner, Kumar said P.Sabitha Indra Reddy, the state education minister under whose constituency the lake falls has taken the initiative to beautify the lake. The lake is a place where migratory birds come and it is also a popular fishing spot. It has to be noted that during the Asaf Jahi period, water was supplied to many of the palaces in Old City as well as to Charminar. The water was supplied through specific water channels to Charminar, Chowmahalla Palace, Malwala Palace, Khurshid Jah Devdi and other places.

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Sri Lanka to issue 6-month tourist visas

The Sri Lankan government has decided to issue six-month visas for tourists applying through the electronic system, local media reported. Officials said the move is a follow-up to a cabinet decision taken on January 4 to link a mobile app created by Sri Lanka Tourism to the visa application process implemented under the country’s Department of Immigration and Emigration through its Online Electronic Tourist Visa Activation (ETA) system, reports Xinhua news agency citing the local media as saying on Wednesday. The applicable visa charges for a six-month stay are $70 for tourists from SAARC countries, $85 for those from non-SAARC countries, and $50 for tourists from Singapore, the Maldives and Seychelles (as per the bilateral agreements signed with those countries). At present, short-term tourist visa for 90 days costs $20 for those from SAARC countries and $35 for nationals from other countries. Sri Lanka’s tourism sector has been one of the worst affected due to the COVID-19 pandemic and tourists are presently allowed to tour the country under a bio bubble. Over 4 million people depend on the local tourism industry directly and indirectly, the government said.

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Now, dolphin conservation reserve to come up with aim to boost tourism in Meerut

Almost a decade after Gangetic river dolphins conservation programme began in Ganga at Hastinapur Wildlife Sanctuary, now efforts are on to have a dedicated dolphin conservation reserve with an aim to increase its population base "which will go a long way in boosting the ecotourism in the region", said Meerut DFO Rajesh Kumar. "WWF India is already involved in the conservation process, but now we will conduct research involving experts from Wildlife Institute of India to study on the most favourite pools where dolphins frequent," the DFO added. At present, there are 41 dolphins in the sanctuary. Gangetic dolphins fall under Schedule I of the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act and have been declared an endangered species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. "We are planning to develop the reserve on the lines of Vikramshila Gangetic Dolphin Sanctuary near Bhagalpur in Bihar. But it requires an exhaustive survey and the reserve will be made where the largest concentration of dolphins are found. Those deeper pools provide a conducive environment for the breeding of these dolphins," DFO Kumar further said. Elaborating, he said, "It should not be mistaken with captive breeding, but it will be done in situ, which means, on-site conservation in the natural population and environment of the species." Notably, there has been a steady rise in the population of Gangetic dolphins in the region. For instance, from 22 in 2015, the population rose to 41 in the 2020 census. The WWF-India and Uttar Pradesh forest department’s divisions of five districts - Bijnor, Meerut, Hapur, Amroha and Bulandshahr - have been involved in the conservation of National Aquatic Animal since 2012. Last year on October 5, on the occasion of World Dolphin Day, director general of Namame Gange Rajiv Ranjan had flagged off 'My Ganga, My Dolphin' campaign at Bijnor and also inaugurated the introduction of Dolphin Safari to attract tourists in the region. Later, UP's principal chief conservator forest had directed DFOs to constitute a dedicated Dolphin Protection Force.

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These countries are now open to fully vaccinated indian travellers

With COVID-19 vaccines being administered across the world, more nations are opening their borders for visitors and easing travel restrictions. While some essential RT-PCR test reports, others are open to only fully-vaccinated travellers. If you are fully vaccinated and have been eager to know which countries you can travel to, here is a list of countries that are open to fully vaccinated Indian travellers. Fully vaccinated Indian travellers will now be allowed to travel to Sri Lanka. As per the reports, anyone travelling from India, with both the doses of either Covaxin or Covishield vaccine, will be allowed entry into the island nation. Passengers will, however, be required to pay for the COVID-19 local travel insurance as well as their RT-PCR test, which they will have to undergo on arrival. Reportedly, those who are not vaccinated or are partially vaccinated will not be allowed to travel to the island nation as per the latest travel rule. Oman is all set to lift the travel ban on fully vaccinated travellers from India as well as 20 other countries, which earlier featured on the Red List. Reportedly, the updated rule will come into effect from September 1. Reportedly, travellers arriving in Oman will need to show a negative COVID-19 PCR test report that has a QR Code, indicating they have received both the doses of vaccine, which has been approved in Oman. Further, the passengers must have received the last dose not less than 14 days ahead of the estimated arrival time. Switzerland was the first country to open its doors for fully vaccinated visitors post the second COVID wave in India. As per the reports, passengers who have received both the jabs of Covishield, will not be required to undergo quarantine on arrival. Although the country does not mandate the requirement of negative RT-PCR reports from such travellers, make sure you check with the airlines you fly with if they require you to carry one from a test, conducted within a certain time frame, to allow you boarding. Fully vaccinated Indian travellers are no longer barred from entering France, as the country has put India on its Amber List. Reports have it that passengers who have received both the jabs of Covishield, or with any vaccine approved by the country, will be allowed entry into the country. The travellers must carry a vaccination certificate as proof that they have been vaccinated. Spain became the latest European country to announce that it is ready to welcome travellers from India, but only the fully-vaccinated ones. Also, fully-vaccinated Indian travellers, who have been vaccinated with both the jabs of Covishield, will be eligible to travel to Spain. Further, children under 12 years of age will not be required to present these documents.

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